KUALA LUMPUR — With 2024 nearing its end, Malaysia contemplates a year characterized by political achievements, social unrest, and environmental calamities."

From Sultan Ibrahim’s rise as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in January to historic floods displacing more than 147,000 individuals in December, the year’s pivotal events reflect the nation’s successes and challenges.

The year also experienced touching instances of public anger and change.

From the heartbreaking suicide of influencer Esha, which resulted in new cyberbullying legislation, to public backlash regarding losses in Khazanah and PNB’s Fashion Valet investment, there were demands for increased accountability. Here are the major news highlights for every month in 2024:

Sultan Ibrahim (seated, left) endorses the declaration of taking office as the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur on January 31, 2024.

Sultan Ibrahim of Johor was formally inaugurated as Malaysia’s 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on January 31, taking over from Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah of Pahang, whose five-year term concluded on December 31, 2023.